Winners of Knottingley's first snowman competition revealed

The building contest was announced earlier this week, after a surprise fall of snow across the Wakefield district.

Sisters Maisie, aged 11 and Anabelle, aged 9, who worked together on their creation, won the competition after creating an impressive 5ft 8 snowman, complete with a carrot for a nose, a plaid scarf, and little rocks for a smile.

Mum to Maisie and Anabelle, said: “My daughters have been working so hard at home schooling. As soon as they were finished yesterday, they built Geoff the snowman.

"They are really proud of him at 5ft 8 and are so happy to won the competition against so many fantastic snowmen in town.”

Local resident, Adele Hayes, who is an active community member and part of the local Liberal Democrats FOCUS team, created the competition for children across Knottingley and Ferrybridge to lighten the town’s mood and put smiles on people’s faces amid treacherous road conditions and the Covid-19 pandemic.

With over twenty kids taking part, other entries included Mason, age six, who opted to create an igloo, and Stanley, age five, who made a wolf out of the snow. Others took a more traditional approach, creating a variety of snowmen with some even topped off with a hat and scarf.

The winners, Maisie and Anabelle, will receive a prize from the local Liberal Democrats team as well as all the other entrants receiving some sweets as a token for their hard work and creativity.

Ms Hayes, a lifelong Knottingley resident, said: “Everyone is a little bit down at the minute given and quite a lot of people are understandable stressed. It just seemed like an easy and fun way to try and take people's mind off the problems we are all facing at the moment."

It is not Ms Hayes' first time hosting a competition. Back in October of last year she ran a successful pumpkin carving contest, and a scarecrow festival for residents in Knottingley & Ferrybridge.

Councillor Tom Gordon, Lib Dem Councillor for Knottingley & Ferrybridge added: “It's super nice to see so many people engaging and making the best of the bad weather. We had over half a dozen entries in the first hour alone with many more telling us they'll be make snowmen and sending their entries later today.